Folding machine for tubular knitted fabrics



March 26, 1963 J. MILLER 3,083,008

FOLDING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR KNITTED FABRICS Filed Sept. 50, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q w o l V* Ef i :g q, LL Q' m E g I l ..1 l IQ===Q l"\ MNL Joh/7 L. Mi//er INVENTOR.

g K BY .Y

i? r Atlomejs March 26, 1963 J. MILLER FOLDING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR KNITTED FABRICS Filed Sept. 50, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mal'ch 25, 1963 J. l.. MILLER 3,083,008

FOLDING MACHINE FCR TUBULAR KNITTED FABRICS Filed Sept. 30, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 26, 1963 J. l.. MILLER 3,083,008

FOLDING MACHINE FOR TUBULAR KNITTED FABRICS Filed Sept. 30, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 nur :ccrnnmm XXX N 'Q "TCT-r" John L. Mil/er IN VENTOR.

Attorney:

J. L. MILLER March 26, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 30, 1960 3,083,068 FLDING MACHNE FUR TUBULAR KNTTEB FABRCS .lohn L. Miiier, 64 Coal St., Port Carbon, Pa. nnen sept. sa, 196e, ses. No. 60,259 16 claims. (ci. 27e-s1) This invention comprises a novel and useful folding machine for tubular knitted fabrics and more particularly relates to Ia mechanism which in an improved and advantageous manner will fold a `continuous strip lof -a tubular knitted fabric to form a bundle or package capable of being readily transported, stored or subsequently handled as desired.

The present invention relates to a dat folding mechanism which is adapted to constitute a part of and operate with a machine for the steaming and calendering of tubular knit fabrics. Folding devices of this nature receive the continuous tubular knitted fabrics as the same emerges from the steaming and calendering mechanism of a machine and folds this thin flat tubularknitted fabric upon itself to form a bundle, to thereby facilitate easy transportation, storage `or subsequent handling of the fabric.

At present there are only two types of hat folding mechanisms upon the market. rllhese comprise a flat folding mechanism `of the Grand Rapids TeX-tile Machine Company which employs the combination of vertically reciprocating folding rollers in conjunction with a horizontally shifting bed upon which the fabric is folded in a bundle; and ia machine lby the Tubular Textile Machinery Company which employs -a vertically reciprocating carriage having thereon a pair of swinging folding rollers in conjunction with a stationary bed upon which the fabric is to be vfolded into a bundle. Both of these forms of folding machines have relatively complex and complicated constructions for supporting the folding roller assembly particularly since the latter is required to have vertical reciprocatory movement, and in the case of the Tubular Textile machine, it is required to -be mounted for swinging movement in addition.

It is therefore the primary purpose of the present invention to greatly simplify the construction for the mounting and driving of the folding mechanism of this character; to greatly increase the speed of operation possible with a mechanism of this character; to provide a machine in which better access can be had to the interior thereof owing to the simpliiication of its mechanism.

The objects of the present invention are attained generally by a hat folding mechanism in which the folding roller assembly is mounted at a xed vertical elevation and is coniined solely to a horizontal reciprocatory travel while the bed upon which the fabric is to be folded is given a step-by-step vertical downward movement to compensate for the successive folds of material placed thereon in order that there shall be maintained a constant dist-ance between the top of the bundle of folded lfabric and the horizontally travelling folding roller assembly.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provide a mechanism for the hat folding of tubular knitted fabrics at a greatly increased speed of operation and handling of the knitted material.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the bulkiness and the complexity of the driving assembly of the folding roller assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a straight line horizontal travel only of the folding roller assembly land to completely eliminate any vertical travel or adjustments of the folding roller assembly thereby reducing the driving mechanism and supporting construction required.

An additional object of the invention is to provide in 3,983,008 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 conjunction with a horizontal travel only of the folding roller assembly a step-by-step downward vertical travel of the folding bed whereby to compensate for the increasing height of the folded fabric accumulated thereon.

Still Ianother object of the invention is to mount the folding lboards of the folding noller Iassembly at the same fixed elevation as that of the folding roller assembly thereby facilitating uniformity of folding of the fabric.

Still another object Iof the invention is to mount the horizontally travelling folding roller assembly vat a fixed vertical height and to so coordinate the downward vertical travel of the table as to maintain a constant distance between the top of the pile Iof folded fabric thereon and the folding roller assembly.

An additional subordinate object of the invention is to provide a mechanism in `accordance with the immediately preceding object which shall enable a precise adjustmentof the step-by-step vertical travel of the table in order that its rate of travel shall accommodate itself to different thicknesses of the tubular knit fabric to be folded thereon.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a folding roller assembly having therein provision for separating or spreading the folding rollers in order to adjust or thread material therethrough.

Additional important object of the invention is to enable a given machine to which the folding roller assembly of this invention is applied to fold lfabric in bundles whose height is limited only by the depth to which the folding table may be lowered.

And a nal object ofthe invention to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the provision of `an apparatus in accordance with the foregoing objects in which the bed of the folding mechanism shall be provided with a sliding platform to facilitate removal of the bundle of folded fabric from the machine.

These together with other objects and yadvantages which will become subsequently `apparent reside in the `details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference ybeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevational View of the dat folding mechanism taken from the delivery end of the same and with the folding bed being shown in its uppermost position in readiness for the beginning of the folding operation;

FIGURE 2 is a view in ventical longitudinal section through the apparatus lof FIGURE l with the bed being shown in dotted lines in another position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view taken on an enlarged scale and upon a vertical longitudinally extending plane, part of the mechanism being omitted and showing in full and dotted lines different positions of the horizontally reciprocating folding roller assembly and illustrating the operation of the mechanism in the flat folding of tubular knit fabrics thereby;

FIGURE 4 is a somewhat schematic and fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the folding roller assembly of the invention;

FGURE 5 is a further schematic perspective View of the fluid pressure actuating mechanism of the invention;

FTGURE 6 is a detail view taken upon an enlarged scale and in vertical transverse section substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIG- URE 2 and showing certain details of the power transmission forming a part of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a further detail view taken in vertical transverse section upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 and showing in particular the mounting of the sliding platform of the folding bed of the apparatus;

FIGURE 8 is a detail -view taken upon enlarged scale substantially upon the horizontal Iplane indicated by the section line 8 8 of FIGURE 2 and showing in particular the manner in which the folding bed is mounted for guided vertical travel with respect to the horizontally travelling folding roller assembly.

Referring rst to FIGURE 2 there is indicated generally by the numeral 10 a portion of a steaming or calendering machine having a dispensing roller 12 by means of which a sheet 14 of a tubular knit fabric after passing through the smoothing and calendering machine 1l) is discharged into a hopper 16 Iwhich is disposed between the calendering machine 10 and a at folding mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 20. By means of the flat folding mechanism 2i), the endless sheet of tubular knit fabric 14 is folded upon itself to form a vertically growing stack or bundle as shown best at 4t2 in FIGURE 3. After the desired bundle has been formed to the requisite height the bundle is removed from the folding machine Z in a manner to be subsequently set forth and is then transported, stored or otherwise subjected to further treatment or processing as desired. It is the flat yfolding machine 2t? which forms the subject matter of the invention disclosed and claimed herein.

The flat folding machine 20 consists of a suitable frame indicated generally lby the numeral 22 and which may consist of a number Cif-suitably arranged vertical members 24, longitudinally extending members 26 and transversely extending members 28 which form a support means by which various elements of the machine are mounted and supported. ihis frame supports a ShorizontallyV extending structure indicated generally by the numeral 30 and upon which are carried horizontally extending tracks as shown at 32 in FIGURE l. Upon -these tracks is mounted a folding roller assembly indicated generally by the numeral 4) and which this is confined to rectilinear horizontal reciprocatory movement upon the tracks. By means of this horizontal travel of the folding roller assembly the material 14 passing downwardly therethrough is folded back and forth upon itself as suggested in FIGURE 3 to thus form a bundle or pile 42 upon a folding bed 44 which in turn is carried by and is moved vertically by a support means 46 which comprises a jack. The support means 46 may conveniently comprise a hydraulic or a fluid pressure operating telescoping jack assembly of any suitable construction. It is merely necessary for the purpose of this invention that the jack mechanism be capable of a step-by-step operation whereby to lower the bed 44 from its raised position in a progressive step-by-step descent until the lowermost position or a desired lower position is reached. Suitable means are provided for automatically controlling the jack and support means in such a manner that each time the folding roller assembly has made a reciprocation upon its support rails, the jack mechanism will be operated to lower the bed by a distance equal to the thickness of the two folds of material placed upon the bed by the folding roller assembly. A very important feature of this invention resides in the provision of a mechanism such that a constant space shall be maintained between the folding roller assembly and the top layer of the material which is folded upon and piled upon the folding bed 44 to thereby ensure even and uniform folds of material and the formation of a uniform bundle or pile o-f the material. The invention also contemplates the provision of a suitable adjusting means whereby the length of each step in the step-by-step travel of the vjack can be adjusted to 'correspond to the handling and folding of materials of diiferent Vthicknesses by the folding mechanism., Y

Although a fluid pressure operated jack of either pneumatic or hydraulic actuation may be satisfactorily employed, it is also within the purview of this invention to ingly connected members 52, see FIGURE 8, of the folding bed 44. 2

It should be here noted that the support means 46 is completely independent of the frame 22 so that if desired the support means may be recessed a suicient distance below the foundation upon which the frame 22 is mounted in order to provide ample clearance for 4the descent of the folding bed. Thus the height of a pile of folded material is not limited by the fixed vertical position of the folding roller assembly but only by the positioning of the support means beneath the folding lbed.

Referring now especially to FIGURES l and 7 it will be seen that the folding bed includes a lower supporting carriage 56 which is directly connected to the support means or jack 4d and thus is directly raised or lowered thereby. A horizontally extending platform 58 is mounted upon the carriage S6 by means of supporting ilanges 69 carried by sets of rollers 62 in channel members 64 on the carriage 56. The arrangement is such that the platform 5 may be moved longitudinally of the carriage, as suggested in dotted lines at 66 in FIGURE 2 in order to facilitate withdrawal of the bundle of folded material when the fol-ding operation has been completed.

It will be un-derstood that the support means or jack mechanism previously described While havin-g a step-by step downward travel is capable of being readily and promptly returned to its uppermost position when it is desired to reset the folding bed for beginning a new folding operation.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 4 it wil-l be observed that the folding roller assembly 40 comprises a `carriage mounted upon the tracks 32 for horizontal reciprocation thereon. This carriage includes a pair of vertical end standards 70 suitably rigidly connected together as by tie rods 72 extending therebetween. The carriage is supported by a pair of Iaxles 74 and 76 extending transversely between the standards 7()` and which axles are provided with grooved wheels 78 which ride upon the angle iron members constituting the tracks 32.

Secured to the axle 74 is a relatively xed roller Si) and cooperating therewith is a relatively mov-able roller 82 secured to the axle 76. As will be observed from FIG- URE 4, the -lower end of the standards '70 are horizontally slotted as at S4 to receive therein slidable journal blocks 86 in which the axle 76 is journaled. A spring means 88 serves to yieldingly urge the relatively movable roller 82 towards the relatively fixed roller S0 and to yieldingly permit these rollers to be spread or separated as desired. In operation, as will be apparent from FIGURE 3 the sheet of material 14 being folded passes over a transverse rod 96 at the upper end of the standards and then passes downwardly between the relatively fixed and movable rollers, to be deposited during the horizontal reciprocation of the folding roller assembly upon .the pile or bundle 42 as indicated in FIGURE 3. As further shown in FIGURE 3 means are provided to effect a separating or spreading of the two rollers in order to widen the distance therebetween when it is decided to adjust or thread material therethrough. This spreading means consists of a lever 92 pivoted as at 94 upon a standard 74)` and having one end engaging the sliding journal block 86 or the axle 76 to eifect movement of the relatively movable roller away from the relatively fixed roller against the resistance of the return spring 88. In order to actuate the lever 92 there is preferably provided an eccentric cam 96 pivoted as at g8 upon the standard and having an operating handle 190.

A pair of folding boards 102 and 104 are provided to press down upon the opposite ends of the stack 42 to hold the folds of the material 14 in place as they are deposited thereon by the folding roller assembly 40. For this purpose each of the boards 1112 and 104 is carried by a lever Aarm 106 secured to a shaft 16S mounted in bearings 110 carried by the frame 20. Upon rocking the shaft about its axis which extends transversely of the tracks, the folding boards are raised or lowered as indicated by consideration of the full and dotted line showings in FIGURE 3. Timed actuation of the rocking of the shafts 1413` is obtained so that the folding boards are lifted and lowered in proper synchronization with the reciprocation of the folding roller assembly 40.

For this purpose each of the shafts is provided with actuating levers 112 at its opposite extremities which lever in turn is provided with a keeper or socket 114. Secured to and projecting from each of 'the standards 7d of the folding roller assembly 40 are actuating elements 12? which may conveniently be in the form of pins. The actuating elements and the actuating levers are so positioned that at each end of the horizontal travel of the folding roller assembly 4t? an actuating element 120 will engage in a keeper 114 and correspondingly raise the attached folding board 1122 or 164 to permit the final movement of the folding roller assembly in that direction to complete the laying of the next fold of material upon the pile 42. As the folding roller assembly reverses its travel and starts back in the other direction, the actuator element will return the corresponding folding board to its engaged position upon that end of the pile of material,

and as the folding roller assembly approaches the other end of its travel the corresponding folding board at that end will in turn be lifted in the same manner. Thus, there is an automatic timed operation of the folding boards in response to reciprocation of the folding roller assembly.

It will be observed that as so far described the folding roller assembly and the folding board assembly are each disposed at a fixed vertical distance which does not vary, thereby greatly simplifying the structure and the associated mecha-.msm of this portion of the apparatus An actuating means is provided for effecting the reciprocatory travel of the folding roller assembly. This actuating means as shown best in FIGURE 4 consists of an endless chain 1311 entrained over a pair of sprockets 132 which are suitably mounted for rotation upon the horizontally extending portion of the frame which supports the tracks assembly. One of the sprockets 132 is provided with a driving axle 134 thereon and which in turn has a driven sprocket 136. Accordingly, it will be understood that continuous rotation is imparted to the axle 134 and thus to the sprocket chain 13). A connecting arm 133 has one end secured to the folding roller assembly 4i) as for example to the axle 74 and has its other end pivotally secured as at 14@ to one of the links of the sprocket chain 130. Thus, as the sprocket chain continues to rotate a horizontal reciprocation will be imparted to the folding roller assembly. It will be understood that the sprocket chain 130 is duplicated on opposite sides of the apparatus to impart an even thrust to the folding roller assembly 4i) during itshorizontal reciprocatory` travel upon the tracks.

Any suitable means is provided for delivering power to the sprockets 136 of the actuating means. Thus, for this purpose power may be taken from any suitable source and by means of a power input shaft 141 and a sprocket chain 142 may be delivered to a lay shaft 144. The latter in turn through the sprocket chains 145 imparts power to the driven sprocket 136, previously mentioned, of the actuating means. This lay shaft 14d is likewise preferably employed as a means to impart rotation to the folding rollers St) and 82. Thus, a further sprocket 154i thereon through a sprocket chain 152 delivers power to the sprocket chain 154 which latter in turn operates the sprocket chain 156. The last mentioned sprocket chain is engaged with a sprocket gear 158 carried by the axle 76 and thus imparts rotation to the relatively movable roller S2. The two rollers are geared together as by the gears 161i and 162. Thus, power is simultaneously applied to the actuating means to effect horizontal travel of the folding roller assembly and also to the folding rollers themselves during such travel.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an interconnecting means between the folding boards and the support means or jack 46 so as to synchronize the operation. Thus, FIGURE 5 diagrammatically illustrates such an interconnecting means applied to a fluid pressure actuating system for the support means. Fluid pressure whether air or liquid is supplied from any suitable source, not shown, through a fluid pressure supply conduit 170. This fluid pressure is delivered through a control valve assembly to a pressure delivery conduit 172 into the fluid pressure operated jack 46. One of the folding boards such as 102 has its rocking shaft 108 provided with an actuating arm 174 thereon. This arm is positioned during its rocking movement to actuate a valve lever 176 of a valve assembly 178 of any conventional design which by means of conduits 1811 and 182 is connected to a control valve 184. This control valve is thus operated each time the shaft 139` rocks and is effective to intermittently apply fiuid pressure through the conduit 172 to the jack 46 to thus produce the desired step-by-step lowering of the folding bed 44. Since the structural details of the necessary valves for this system in themselves form no part of the present invention, a further description of the same is deemed to be unnecessary.

It will also be understood that in place of the fluid actuated means for the support means 46 Various other operating mechanism could be employed and likewise could use the interconnection with the folding boards to effect the desired synchronized operation of the same.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A fiat folding machine comprising a support frame, a pair of horizontally extending tracks mounted on said frame at a fixed elevation, a folding roller assembly mounted on said tracks for rectilinear horizontal travel, actuating means connected to said folding roller assembly for imparting reciprocatory movement thereto along said tracks, a folding bed disposed beneath said folding roller assembly, support means carrying said bed for vertical movement of said bedl between an empty upper position and a loaded lower position, operating means connected to said support means and operable in response to each reciprocation of said folding roller assembly for causing a step-by-step lowering of said bed in timed relation to said reciprocations for maintaining a substantially constant Vertical spacing of the top layer of material folded in stacked relation upon said bed to said folding roller assembly.

2. The combination of claim l wherein said folding roller assembly is restricted to reciprocation between predetermined limits whereby to deposit folded material entirely upon and within the ends of said bed.

3. The combination of claim l including guide means engaging said frame and bed and limiting the latter to rectilinear vertical movement.

4. The combination of claim l wherein said folding bed and said support means is disposed between said pair of rails whereby vertical travel of said folding bed is independent of the Vertical position of said rails.

5. The combination of claim l wherein said folding roller assembly includes a carriage mounted upon said tracks, a relatively xed roller journaled in said carriage, a relatively movable roller mounted in said carriage for movement horizontally towards and from said relatively fixed roller, said rollers feeding material therebetween for folding upon said bed, means resiliently urging said movable roller towards said fixed roller, means on said carriage and connected to said movable roller for moving it away from said xed roller.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said folding roller assembly includes a carriage mounted upon said tracks, a relatively fixed roller journaled in said carriage, a relatively movable roller mounted in said carriage for movement horizontally towards and from said relatively fixed roller, said rollers feeding material therebetween for folding upon said bed, gearing connecting said movable roller to said fixed roller.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said folding roller assembly comprises a carriage, a pair of rollers journaled in said carriage in closely spaced side-by-side relation, support elements on the ends of each roller movably mounted on said tracks.

8. A folding machine including a stationary support frame, a sheet material folding assembly, means mounting said assembly upon said frame for horizontal, rectilinear reciprocation at a xed vertical elevation, means for imparting horizontal reciprocation between fixed predetermined limits of travel to said assembly, a folding bed disposed beneath said folding assembly, adjustable support means for said bed for vertically moving the latter between upper and lower positions which are independent of said frame and mounting means, operating means connected to said support means and operable in response to the reciprocations of said assembly for effecting a stepby-step lowering of said bed to thereby maintain a constant vertical clearance between said assembly and the top layer of material folded and stacked on said bed.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said assembly includes a pair of rollers, drive means connected to said rollers and to said means for imparting horizontal reciprocation.

10. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of folding boards pivoted to said frame above and beyond the ends of said bed and extending transversely of said tracks adjacent the opposite ends thereof and positioned for swinging movement downward to engage and hold the top layer of folded material upon said bed and upwardly to uncover said toplayer to permit a subsequent layer of material to be folded thereon, means for operating said folding boards in timed relation to the horizontal travel of said folding roller assembly.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said operating means includes an actuating arm connected to each folding board, a pair of actuating elements projecting outwardly beyond and mounted upon opposite sides of said folding roller assembly, said arms and elements being positioned for operative engagement at each end of the horizontal travel of said folding roller assembly.

12. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of folding boards pivoted to said freu e above and beyond the ends of said bed and extending transversely of said tracks adjacent the opposite ends thereof and positioned for swinging movement downward to engage and hold the top layer of folded material upon said bed and upwardly to uncover said top layer to permit a subsequent layer of material to be folded thereon, means for operating said folding boards in timed relation to travel of said folding roller assembly, means connecting one of said folding boards to said support means for elfecting lowering of said support meansand said folding bed in response to each operation of lsaid one folding board.

13. The combination of claim l wherein said folding roller assembly includes a carriage mounted upon said tracks, a relatively fixed roller journaled in said carriage, a relatively movabie roller mounted in said carriage for movement horizontally towards and from said relatively fixed roller, said rollers feeding material therebetween for folding upon said bed.

14. The combination of claim 13 including driving means connected to a source of power and to both said actuating means and to said rollers.

15. The combination of claim l wherein said support means comprises a jack independent of said frame and connected to and supporting said bed, means connected to said jack for operating the latter.

16. The combination of claim 1 including operating means for said support means, means connecting said support operating means to said actuating means for lowering said bed a distance equal to two folds of material placed thereon for each reciprocation of said folding roller assembly whereby to maintain a constant distance between the latter and the top fold of material on said bed.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,283,108 Dexter Oct. 29, 1918 2,098,427 Menschner Nov. 9, 1937 2,175,823 Breth Oct. 10, 1939 2,572,289 Truslow et al. Oct. 23, l951 2,761,678 Cohn et al Sept. 4, 1956 2,845,265 Gamble et al July 29, 1958 2,921,786 Deichmann et al Jan. 19, 1960 

1. A FLAT FOLDING MACHINE COMPRISING A SUPPORT FRAME, A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING TRACKS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AT A FIXED ELEVATION, A FOLDING ROLLER ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRACKS FOR RECTILINEAR HORIZONTAL TRAVEL, ACTUATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID FOLDING ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR IMPARTING RECIPROCATORY MOVEMENT THERETO ALONG SAID TRACKS, A FOLDING BED DISPOSED BENEATH SAID FOLDING ROLLER ASSEMBLY, SUPPORT MEANS CARRYING SAID BED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BED BETWEEN AN EMPTY UPPER POSITION AND A LOADED LOWER POSITION, OPERATING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO EACH RECIPROCATION OF SAID FOLDING ROLLER ASSEMBLY FOR CAUSING A STEP-BY-STEP LOWERING OF SAID BED IN TIMED RELATION TO SAID RECIPROCATIONS FOR MAINTAINING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT VERTICAL SPACING OF THE TOP LAYER OF MATERIAL FOLDED IN STACKED RELATION UPON SAID BED TO SAID FOLDING ROLLER ASSEMBLY. 